Oak Park reviews Chicago Avenue streetscape concept honoring Dr. Percy Julian; design includes exhibits, gateways and safety changes

Design consultants and village staff presented a conceptual streetscape design for Chicago Avenue that would honor Dr. Percy Julian with a nine‑block corridor of interpretive exhibits, gateways, branded design elements and safety/streetscape improvements.

Jennifer Kelleher, senior landscape architect with Planning Resources, outlined a three‑pillar approach—branding, narrative and site design—and showed proposed treatments for primary nodes at East Avenue, Ridgeland Avenue, Lombard Avenue and Humphrey/Austin. Proposed elements included gateway sculptures or pillars that serve as visual arrival points, larger interpretive panels for major nodes, smaller touch‑point exhibits integrated into planting beds, and colored, geometric design motifs that reference Julian’s scientific work.

Kelleher also presented digital options, including a navigational or immersive augmented‑reality (AR) experience that could expand the corridor’s narrative without relying entirely on physical installations. The consultants noted AR could enable content updates and year‑round interactions (for example, restoring seasonal plantings digitally) and expand the amount of biographical material available to visitors.

Trustees expressed broad support for the concept while asking staff to clarify several implementation points before final approval. Trustee Taglia asked about integrating the streetscape with Vision Zero safety work and recommended the village consider implementing mid‑term bike lane recommendations while the pavement is open. Several trustees supported adding bicycle parking and aligning the project with existing capital projects to avoid repeated pavement work.

Trustee Taglia also raised the cost question for AR elements, noting an estimate discussed in the meeting materials of about $600,000 for an immersive AR component and asking staff to present alternatives and potential cost savings, including simpler web‑based content and QR code linking.

Village staff said the item was presented to confirm the board’s direction on scope and that staff will prepare cost estimates and a recommended implementation approach for the 2026 capital improvement plan. A motion to approve the design concept and scope was made and seconded on the record; the transcript does not record a final roll‑call vote on the motion, and staff indicated next steps would include preparing cost estimates and scheduling for inclusion in the capital plan.

The board’s discussion emphasized coordination with Vision Zero and the village bike plan, the desire for robust public engagement and the opportunity to use both physical and digital exhibits to tell Dr. Julian’s life story.